New plan for town mosque is unveiled

A new mosque with minaret could be built opposite Dudley Zoo and the existing one turned into a community centre, it was revealed today.

The current mosque in Castle Hill holds 477 people and a plan to build a new one would increase that number up to 750, says the Dudley Muslim Association.

Chairman Khurshid Ahmed said Dudley Council sent a letter yesterday which gave a commitment to providing the DMA with land to be able to increase capacity by 50 per cent.

Earlier this week deputy council leader, Les Jones, announced that an agreement had been reached between the council and the DMA not to pursue a controversial plan to build a new super mosque in Hall Street.

Mr Ahmed said he could not support that position until the council put a "viable" option on the table.

Today he said he was "delighted" by the council's decision to "finally say a viable option can be looked at" and said the DMA would meet on Sunday to consider it.

He said the likely cost of a new mosque in Castle Hill would be about £3m, funded by the Muslim community.

Councillor Jones said the council was asking the DMA to relinquish ownership of the site in Hall Street.